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Shattering Common Myths About a Computer Science Degree

A surgeon performs open-heart surgery on a patient without ever
leaning over the operating table. In fact, the surgeon isn’t even
standing in the same room, let alone the same city. He sits
comfortably at a console, where he uses a robotic arm from afar to
maneuver instruments into tiny incisions on the patient’s
chest.

Sound like medical wizardry? This is the magic of computer
science.

Although the above example is a dramatic one, few aspects of
everyday life are untouched by computer science. Every car built
today contains a computer that monitors the engine and alerts
drivers with a "Check Engine" light when problems arise. Smart
phones translate our movements on a touch screen. Shopping websites
like Amazon.com track customer habits and make recommendations
based on previous purchases.

Computer science has been shaping society for decades. With a computer
science degree, you too have an opportunity to impact the world
- and have fun in the process. There’s a lot more to it than code
and hardware! Here are a few myths about computer science and a
handful of reasons why you should pursue this dynamic, exhilarating
field of study.

Myth: Computer science is boring and rigid.

Computer science is logical and structured, rooted in
mathematics, but it requires as much creativity as the arts. You
might say computer scientists are technological artists. They think
in multiple dimensions, hunt for creative solutions to complex
problems, and design unique software. Like muralists who assemble
large-scale paintings, computer scientists are interpreting the
world around them and building virtual landscapes.

Myth: If you get a degree in computer science, you will be
chained to a computer forever.

Don’t be fooled by the name. You won’t be programming for a
lifetime simply because you study computer science. Computer
science is versatile and applicable to many fields like marketing,
finance, retail, and criminal justice. For instance, you might work
for a company that uses data mining software to predict customers’
buying patterns and figure out how to improve marketing and
increase sales.

Remember that technology is rapidly changing, and you will need
to change with it. A career in computer science requires you to
embrace innovation and adapt quickly to change.

Myth: Computer scientists are anti-social nerds who sit in
their basement typing code.

It’s true that some computer scientists spend endless hours
writing code. But computer science requires a good deal of
teamwork, interaction, and interpersonal skills. Many people with a
computer science degree work on development teams and are trained
to respond to users’ needs.

Computer science is the intersection of people and technology,
and there is no better example of how that plays out than in social
media. Facebook has become such a powerful connector that it helped
spur a revolution in Egypt, giving protesters a space to organize.
Today, Facebook boasts 750 million active users worldwide – and
that phenomenon all started thanks to one computer programmer, Mark
Zuckerberg.

If you aspire to be part of the creative economy, consider a
computer science degree. You might have the potential to invent the
next hit social media site, devise a medical robot to improve
lives, or design a tool to identify terrorist hot spots. Any route
points you to an exciting and rewarding career.

Saint Leo University, the oldest Catholic college in Florida
(1889), ranks as one of the top universities in the South,
according to U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best
Colleges" list. Saint Leo’s main campus, located 30 miles north of
Tampa, educates more than 1,900 traditional students, part of a
total enrollment of more than 15,000. Saint Leo University ranks as
one of the nation's ten leading providers of higher education to
the military and is a nationally recognized leader in online
education.